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“I can already smell it from here..” said Juno. She walked along the sidewalk of the bustling city. It was in the afternoon and she was walking to a certain bakery, hidden in one of the quiet corner of the city.
Ever since she visited the place, she couldn’t stop going and had made it a habit to come there every weekend. Sure, the sweets there were so delicious it could make her cry tears of joy, but that wasn’t the only reason she was coming here so often. She had another, bigger, reason.
Juno stood in front of the bakery and looked up at the sign,‘Haru’s Sweet Shack'. Despite standing outside Juno could already smell the sweet aroma spilling out from inside the place, causing her tail to wag idly. She glanced inside through the large window in the front, seeing the small white rabbit behind the counter wearing her usual cheerful smile.
And, well, that rabbit? The one named Haru? She was the other reason.
Somehow, someway, this stupid wolf had gotten a crush on a small white rabbit. It was minuscule, insignificant, at first. Just a tiny attraction. Tiny. Then she saw her smile. Then she heard her cute voice. Then she learned her name. Then they started to talk and get to know each other. And it aaaallll just spiraled down from there.
Juno took a deep breath as she opened the door. Her canine nose intensifying it ten times over, she enjoyed all of the aromas in the air. They relaxed her. She glanced over to where Haru was.
“..Here’s your two strawberry shortcakes, Louis,” said Haru. She handed a bag to a red deer on the other side of the counter.
He took it and gave a small smile, “Thanks.”
“Have fun with your wolf~” She smirked at him as he was about to leave.
“Please stop it with that.”
"Never."
He sighed. "You devil. Well, bye for now, Haru." Louis walked over to the entrance, almost bumping to Juno in the process. “O-oh, excuse me.”
“I-it’s alright.” Juno got out of the deer’s way and walked inside.
Haru beamed when she saw Juno at the entrance. “Juno, you came!”
Juno could help but to smile back, her tail behind her wagged excitedly as she got closer to the rabbit. God does she wish she could keep that smile to herself forever.
“Hey, Haru!”
“It’s always nice to see you here,” said Haru, still wearing her cheerful smile. “What’ll it be today? Cake? Bread? Maybe some dooonuts~?”
Juno chuckled. “C’mon, you should know what I’d order by now. I always get the same thing.”
“And that would be?” Haru smirked.
Juno rolled her eyes jokingly. “Haru, I think it would be faster if you just give it to me.”
“I think it would be faster if you just say what you want to order, Miss Juno.”
Juno sighed, she took a breath before speaking in a pompous and grand voice, “Well... I see before me many options to pick from, but I would love nothing more than to have your special, the strawberry shortcake, Miss Haru.”
“Why of course, madam.” Haru bowed graciously, answering in the same manner. “I will procure it as quickly as I’m able.”
"V-very well," Juno almost laughed but managed to keep up the play, “then I will be waiting for your return.”
Haru giggled as she went to take one of the shortcakes in the display case and served it to the wolf with a little plate, coupled with a spoon and a fork. Grandly, of course.
“Here it is M’lady.”
Juno couldn’t help it anymore and let out a giggle as she accepted the cake. “Thanks Haru.”
“Enjoy my baked goods~!”
“Sure will.”
Juno took the plate and walked over to one of the empty tables by the window.
She sat down and started nibbling down on her food. She closed her eyes to truly savor all of the sweet and velvety goodness in her mouth. The fluffiness of the cake made it easy on her mouth. And the strawberries were definitely the star of the show with how sweet and juicy it was, of course, it wasn't complete without that tiny bit of sourness as well.
It took her everything she had within her to not wolf down that tiny cake in front of her.
Everything about it reminded her of Haru. All Sweet and soft, fluffy, and that it was taking all she had to not devour the tiny rabbit in front of he- in front of her?!
Haru was sitting across the table from Juno, taking the previously empty seat. She was resting her chin on her hands, watching the wolf intently with a smile.
“W-what’re yo-!” Some of the cake in Juno’s mouth jumped to her throat, causing her to have a coughing fit.
“Whoa! Calm down Juno, what happened there?!” Haru hopped off her seat and ran to Juno’s side, patting her back to comfort her. “You okay?”
“Wh-why’re you here?”
Haru’s brows furrowed. “What? You don’t want me here?”
Juno shook her head. “N-no! It’s just... Aren’t you supposed to run the counter?”
“Well, yeah. But it’s been a surprisingly slow day today.” Haru pointed her index upward and moved it in a circle.
Juno took notice and looked around the bakery. Looked like Haru was right, the other animals who were eating here have gone away. There weren’t any other animals inside other than them.
“But y’know, I’ve been sitting in that seat for quite a while. You didn’t notice?”
“No... I didn’t.”
Haru was already back at her seat back when she answered, “Really?” she chuckled, amused. “Guess my cake was so good it took you out of this world if you really didn’t notice me with those wolf senses of yours.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.” Juno followed suit and chuckled along. “But being serious here for a sec, what do you do to make these cakes so delicious?”
Haru’s mouth turned into a mischievous smirk. “That’s classified, my dear. I can’t just tell anyone my secret weapon. The strawberry cakes here are the specials for a reason, you know.”
“Pfft, I’m not some owner of a rival bakery, nor will I tell others about this 'secret weapon’ of yours, Haru.”
Haru squinted her eyes and stroked her chin. “Hmm, You are making some good points there...”
“...And?”
“Fine,” said Haru in a defeated tone. “I guess I can tell you.”
Juno’s ears perked up, ready to catch whatever she’ll say next.
Haru rested her chin on one of her hands, pointing at the last piece of strawberry on Juno's plate. “I grow them myself,” said Haru. “Along with some other stuff I make.”
Juno took another bite from the last bits and pieces of her cake. She leaned forward, waiting for more.
"..."
No more words came from Haru’s mouth. Instead, the rabbit tilted her head, a confused look forming on her face.
"Is there something one my face?"
"Wait,” Juno paused. “...Is that all?”
Haru raised an eyebrow. “What? Were you expecting something else?”
“Well, I don’t know, I thought your 'secret weapon’ would be something more... grand, I guess.”
“Well, sorry that I didn’t get them from aliens or grow my strawberries in some secret underground facility or something,” Haru huffed.
“H-hey I didn’t say it was a bad thing! In fact, I think it’s really impressive!” Juno panicked, thinking that she had made her angry. "You must've quite a green thumb to grow something like these."
Haru giggled. “I was just joking, Juno, but thanks. I grow them in my garden at home, actually.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Sure thing! You should see it sometimes. I wanna show off all of the hard work I did!”
“Oh.” Juno’s eyes widened, her tail that has been wagging idly the whole time they talked started to wag even faster. “I- I’d love to.”
“Good!”
“And maybe... Um...”
Haru cocked her head. “Hm? Maybe what?”
Juno’s face flushed, she clenched her fist on her knees. “Well maybe after that we could..”
“Hmmm?” Haru leaned forward on her elbows, watching the wolf with a smirk. “We could what, miss Juno~?”
“Nn...” Juno pouted. Of course, Haru already knew what she was trying to say. Canines were way too easy to read. “Hmph, you don’t have to ask if you already know.”
"But I wanna hear it from you.”
Juno could feel the want to just squeeze the ever-living crap out of this rabbit for teasing her like this. But then again... She couldn't really say she hates it either. She sighed and took a deep breath to steady herself, all the while Haru was still watching her with a wide grin.
The wolf finally started, “Like I was saying..”
“Yeah~?”
Juno threw an annoyed glare at Haru before she continued. “Maybe afterward we could… uh gr-grab... grab something to eat or something...?" Her voice turned to a whisper towards the end.
Haru had clearly heard what Juno said. It made her heart jump with joy. She planned to say yes of course, but it wouldn’t be fun if she just said it outright. So she put up one of her hands next to her ear.
“I’m sorry, what did you say? I couldn't hear the last bit since you got quiet.”
“Ughh, how long are you going to torture me like this?” Juno groaned, planting her head on the table, defeated.
“Until you say it, of course. Clearly.”
“Mm.. Maybe we could grab something to eat afterward,” Juno said quickly, her face still red. “There. I said it you evil rabbit.”
Haru chuckled, “See? That wasn’t too hard now, was it?”
“Shut up...”
“And to answer your question.” Haru paused as she stood up from her chair. Her white cheeks turned bright red as she smiled. “Yes. Yes, we could.”
“O-okay…” Juno already knew that she was going to agree, especially because of all the teasing she did to the poor wolf. But it did nothing in helping Juno hide her pure glee after hearing her response. Juno’s tail was basically like a whirlwind with how fast it was wagging.
Haru giggled, enjoying the sight of the joyful wolf before her. “See you later then~” She waved shortly before she walked back to the front, serving a new customer that had just walked in.
Juno watched Haru hop away. She looked down at her now empty plate on the table and sighed.
“This won’t stay as just a crush, will it?”